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Author Topic: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"  (Read 2284 times)

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Offline rodeo

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CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« on: March 09, 2015, 11:08:12 PM »
A while ago I picked up a crusty, but mostly running K0. I say mostly running because the clutch seemed to be stuck. In any case, she wasn't safe for the road at all. After I started looking over the bike at home, I noticed a soggy plastic bag under the seat. Scratch that, soaking wet! Inside the bag I found what was left of the owners manual, and dealer documentation from Japan. It looks like this bike was purchased in Japan and then imported by someone in the military. I thought it was weird that most of the stickers were in Japanese.

I did what I could to save the wet paper. The owners manual is pretty bad, but the Japanese owners manual is mostly there. It has all the first couple service records in it signed by the techs who did them, and a ton of other stuff. I thought that was pretty neat.



I started tearing into this thing almost a year ago, and sort of stopped. Now I've gotten back on the horse... hopefully I remember where most of this stuff goes!






As for the bike, yikes! I've started with worse. I had heart surgery at 26 two months ago, which wasn't too bad, but it leaves me wondering if I'll get back to normal again. My senior year of engineering school is coming to a close as well, so I've just been chipping away at this project slowly. I'm hoping updating this build will help keep me motivated.

So far I have the carbs about 95% rebuilt and polished. Although I may tear them down again to check all the seals between the bodies.

I just checked my bores and pistons. It looks like I'm within wear limits on all four pistons, and my bores are not out of round. (although using the dial was pretty difficult) So they are "round enough". I think I can get away with a good hone and some new rings. I want to get my top end sorted before I split the bottom.

Cleaned and checked my cylinder head and cylinders for warpage. Smallest feeler gauge ( .0015") wouldn't fit. Good there.

Soda blasting, painting and valve lapping are up next.

I will try to get more pics up soon!

I'm trying to decide about powder coating the frame; I feel like loosing a couple of those Japanese stickers would be a shame, but I'm not sure they hold much value other than the coolness factor.
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Offline Finnigan

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2015, 11:59:41 PM »
Pretty cool.  A good powder coat shop can tape off and save any stickers that are metal backed.  If they are just paper they'll burn up in the oven.
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Offline calj737

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2015, 04:56:12 AM »
Normally, I say powder coat. But in this instance, I would not risk damaging those stickers! Personally, they make the bike extra unique and having a JDM bike in the US is pretty darn cool!

A really good bath of degreaser, and soapy water will help shine up the frame. You can use Chasis paint to spray the frame if there's unsightly rust of chips and that will allow you to protect the stickers completely. (Even taping them off if they're paper-based, they will damage while curing in the PC oven).

What's the red steering nut about?
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline mystic_1

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2015, 05:00:19 AM »
That's the speed warning light.  Comes on when you're breaking the law :)

mystic_1
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Offline calj737

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2015, 05:03:46 AM »
Thanks, Mystic.

Rodeo - you might also pre-emptively swap your valves seals. At this point, they may well be heading towards the end of their life and with the head disassembled, it's pretty convenient to swap them. Victor seals are highly recommended, but stockers are good too.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline rodeo

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2015, 10:25:02 PM »
Here she is with the tank removed before I pulled the engine. I was unaware about the trick with laying the frame in it's side, so I did it the hard way. The frame has a couple of extra scratches from that unfortunately.



Top end disassembled minus the valve guides. The old gasket was so stuck on there I had to soak it in penetrating oil for a couple days and then attempt to scrape it off. After three days of spending over an hour each day working at it I gave up and took a scotch brite pad and buffing tool to it. Came right off. I was worried I may have taken some material off, but after going over both of the gasket surfaces with my straight edge they look good.



I have oil seals and a new gasket set; as I plan on refreshing all of the seals and gaskets on this engine. My engine set did come with valve stem seals, I think all I'm missing are the black pucks covering the cylinder studs.

Replace cylinder studs yay or nay? They seem to have seen better days.
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2015, 10:35:31 PM »
Yes, replace with HD APE or Cycle X studs!
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline calj737

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2015, 06:00:19 AM »
It's pretty hard to lay the bike over to remove the engine with the front end still on anyway... But removing the breather and oil pan help a lot to get the motor in and out.

While the engine is out, take this opportunity to refresh your carb boots. They will have gotten pretty dried out by now, and a soak in Wintergreen oil brings them back to a nice pliable condition. It makes removal of the carbs easier, but ultimately can resolve vacuum leaks.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline mrfish2

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2015, 08:37:32 AM »
What kind of buffing tool did you use to get that gasket material off? I'm at the same point in my build and its taking forever.
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Quote from: crazypj on October 19, 2008, 09:14:45 PM
It's a little motor and likes having the tits revved off it.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2015, 09:50:09 AM »
Quote from: calj737 on March 11, 2015, 06:00:19 AM
It's pretty hard to lay the bike over to remove the engine with the front end still on anyway... But removing the breather and oil pan help a lot to get the motor in and out.

While the engine is out, take this opportunity to refresh your carb boots. They will have gotten pretty dried out by now, and a soak in Wintergreen oil brings them back to a nice pliable condition. It makes removal of the carbs easier, but ultimately can resolve vacuum leaks.

Cal,

There are a few different wintergreen oil "cocktails" discussed on various threads (re mixture, temperature and soak time).  Do you have a particular method you like?
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline calj737

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2015, 09:57:15 AM »
yes, new boots! But I like to spend money  ;)
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline strynboen

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2015, 09:58:27 AM »
if it vas my head..il had go for milling 0,2-0,3milimeter of the surfase. of the head..just as a safty..any car shop or mashinist can do the job .
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2015, 10:00:40 AM »
Quote from: calj737 on March 11, 2015, 09:57:15 AM
yes, new boots! But I like to spend money  ;)

I buy the new ones, too, but I was wondering if I might try to salvage some crusty 550 boots.
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline calj737

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2015, 10:22:18 AM »
it seems most folks boil in a pot of 1:1 wintergreen and water for about 20 minutes. Rumor has it, stinks up the place pretty good...
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2015, 10:44:51 AM »
Yeah, that like baking powdercoat or dishwashing parts, will not be happening in my place -- not if I want any cooked meals. 
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline rodeo

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Re: CB550K0 "The Immigrant"
« Reply #15 on: March 11, 2015, 10:18:34 PM »
Quote from: mrfish2 on March 11, 2015, 08:37:32 AM
What kind of buffing tool did you use to get that gasket material off? I'm at the same point in my build and its taking forever.

I just used a scotch brite pad (round) on a polishing air tool. It runs at pretty low RPM.



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